Trustees at the meeting considered a report by Professor David Chiddick, vice-chancellor of Lincoln University, into Fortune's dismissal in March last year for making allegedly defamatory comments about bureau manager Roy Trotter.

Chiddick's report said Fortune's dismissal meeting "was not conducted in an appropriate way" and said allegations by Tom James, chair of Lincoln CAB, that Fortune had made libellous and defamatory allegations were "unproven and/or inappropriate".

Chiddick added he had "considerable sympathy" for James because he had acted on the advice of the charity's solicitors, Bates Wells & Braithwaite, when he dismissed Fortune.

The report prompted an apology by the national body last month and now Lincoln CAB has taken the same action.

"We have drafted a letter to Lettie accepting the findings of the report and unreservedly apologising for the fact of the dismissal and the manner in which it was handled," said Philip Wright, vice-chair of Lincoln CAB.

Asked whether James intended to carry on as chair, Wright said: "That's a matter for the board. Tom James took advice and followed that advice. I don't think you can necessarily blame Tom."

A spokesman for Citizens Advice said: "Lincoln and District CAB trustee board will have a meeting to elect officers at their meeting next month, so it's really a question of whether Tom James will put himself up for re-election or not."

Expert Hub

When a property is being constructed, VAT is charged at the standard rate. But if you're a charity, health body, educational institution, housing association or finance house, the work may well fall into a category that justifies zero-rating - and you could make a massive saving